Gear Review: Dynafit Manaslu Skis

A lightweight, slim ski built for experts.

[alpine expert]

Nothing against powder, but this ski excels at real-world touring: climb a lot, descend anything. Which is not to say this lightweight, 95mm-waist ski can’t also handle the deep stuff. One Steamboat Springs-based tester skied it during a storm in the Colorado backcountry, and as the inches accumulated, this featherweight board kept performing. Credit the Manaslu’s versatility to a “progressive shovel” that starts just forward of center and rises to the end of the ski’s tip.

That provides ample float in boot-top fluff, while a dual-radius sidecut (more extreme in the front half of the ski; less so in the back) makes it a snappy turner in all kinds of conditions, with good grip on icy slopes and a stable feel underfoot. Pair them with Dynafit’s Manaslu Speedskin ($200), which has an elastic nub that fits into a notch on the tip of the ski. $700; 6 lbs. 3 oz. (178cm); 161cm (101/09/115), 169cm (104/92/118), 187cm (109/95/124); dynafit.com